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Welcome to our jewelry making community: imagine, create, share, & inspire!

Carolyn Nau
Carolyn Nau
  • Female
  • Milwaukee WI
  • United States
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How can I make Gemstone beaded necklaces that won't break when playing tennis etc?
2 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Carolyn Nau Oct 10, 2011.

Large Lobster Clasps - Help with Search
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Started this discussion. Last reply by Carolyn Nau Dec 8, 2008.

Pricing when you get a deal
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Started this discussion. Last reply by Carolyn Nau Oct 24, 2008.

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Carolyn Nau replied to Carolyn Nau's discussion 'How can I make Gemstone beaded necklaces that won't break when playing tennis etc?'
Thanks for all the great suggestions. I am using the guards and that helps, but yes sometimes they do break at the crimp. The one I've really had issues with though was with a tube with loop on it (can't think of what it's called)…
Oct 10, 2011
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Lorri Ely replied to Carolyn Nau's discussion 'How can I make Gemstone beaded necklaces that won't break when playing tennis etc?'
You might try using the wire guard thingies, or cable thimble which is designed to prevent this sort of fraying: http://www.artbeads.com/handy-tips-cable-thimble.html http://beads.artbeads.com/search?w=wire+guards&asug=wire+ and also, you…
Oct 8, 2011
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How can I make Gemstone beaded necklaces that won't break when playing tennis etc?

 I make "beaded chains" and necklaces with a hook or clasp for wearing with a pendant called the BioElectric Shield http://www.bioelectricshield.com The ones I make for women seem to last and last, but the few I've made for men break in 4-6 months. I'm using SoftFlex 49 strand 24m wire. I haven't seen the latest broken piece, but I'm going to guess that it broke at the crimp.Does anyone have any suggestions on other materials I can…See More
Discussion posted by Carolyn Nau Aug 10, 2011
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Carolyn Nau commented on Lorri Ely's group 'How to Make Jewelry'
this is a question. I make "beaded chains" and necklaces with a hook or clasp for wearing with a pendant called the BioElectric Shield http://www.bioelectricshield.com The ones I make for women seem to last and last, but the few I've…
Aug 10, 2011
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Carolyn Nau commented on Lorri Ely's group 'Jewelry Supplies Deals'
this is a question. I make "beaded chains" and necklaces with a hook or clasp for wearing with a pendant called the BioElectric Shield http://www.bioelectricshield.com The ones I make for women seem to last and last, but the few I've…
Aug 10, 2011
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Carolyn Nau commented on Lorri Ely's group 'Jewelry Supplies Deals'
SAVE ON JEWELRY SELLING INSIGHTS Great Deal from David Weiman If you don't get this newsletter you are missing out on some great advice. He's always got something new to add that ads value to what I do and how I sell. TREAT YOUR FRIENDS TO…
Aug 9, 2011
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Carolyn Nau commented on Lorri Ely's group 'Jewelry Supplies Deals'
Another favorite source for basics...gemstone beads that are mostly fillers and the background to fabulous designs. Nothing fabulous or awesome, but some good quality. I order a lot of their round beads, nuggets, rondells, tubes (some of these are…
Jul 7, 2011
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Carolyn Nau commented on Lorri Ely's group 'Jewelry Supplies Deals'
Due to the crazy price of silver and gold, I've found myself using more and more pewter. We have a gemshow here every two or three months, great and terrible at the same time, imagine shopping for everything in person that often! One of the…
Jul 7, 2011

Profile Information

Why are you visiting?
I'm looking for project ideas, To make new friends
What is your favorite type of jewelry to make?
Necklaces/Pendants
Tell us about yourself! What makes you interesting, unique, funny, talented, or...?
Since I was a little girl making Barbie clothes on an old treadle sewing machine and jewelry out of tiny beads and thread, I've had a passion for creating beautiful things. I feel that creative expression is something we all need to really keep in touch with our souls, our inner selves. It doesn't matter if it's just creating a nice flower arrangement or a nice vignette on a table…the important thing is to find a way to create beauty.

I could go on about the details of my life which have taken me to a lot of places, some planned, some completely unexpected. My life hasn’t taken a straight path from one place to another, but followed a lot of twists and turns. The changes in my life have brought a lot of wonderful people into my life, some for a long time, others have shared time with me briefly, but all these connections brought something beautiful to me. I’ve been an accountant, a sales person, a writer, a clothing designer, an office manager and a few other things along the way.

The one constant has always been a need to keep growing and creating. Totally by accident I began this new career in jewelry design. I went to the Milwaukee Bead and Button show and completely immersed myself in fabulous stones and beads. With the help of a good friend, I ended up with a dresser full of gorgeous beads and gemstones. From that point I’ve turned my passion for jewelry, crystals and stones and creative design into lot of fabulous jewelry.

Michelangelo said “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it”

I have that same feeling about jewelry. I read books and magazines about jewelry designs and look at a lot of inspirational idea. But when it comes time to sit down and make something, all that goes out the window. My creative process consists of opening all the drawers in my bead cabinet (all arranged by color) and seeing which beads call to me. Then I wait for them to let me know what they want to become. Sounds odd, perhaps, but I feel that each bead has an energy and a purpose and they truly help to inspire. Years ago, I designed clothing the same way, I would layout a bolt of fabric and then would wake up in the morning with a vision of what it was to become. Jewelry is even more intuitive than that, and much more immediate. I pull out a collection of beads, and then sit with them for a while. Sometimes I have an immediate picture of what I’m making, other times it evolves completely on its own as I work. It’s a fun, and often surprising process.

The other part that continually surprises and humbles me is the interaction that happens when my jewelry finds its owner. How to explain this? When the right person puts on a piece, it completely transforms into something much more than it was. I feel a huge “rush” when this happens and know that I’m doing something that is much bigger than what I can understand. I’ve also seen, felt shifts in the energy of the wearer as they connect with the piece. Jewelry is a beautiful decoration, but it can also connect us with parts of ourselves that we may not have fully expressed, or strengthen those that we have.
My website is:
http://carolynnau.com
What is your favorite jewelry making style or medium?
semi-precious beads
What best describes your style?
unique
What are your favorite colors in making jewelry?
greens
What are your favorite beads and stones for making jewelry?
Lizardite (serpentine) I love the energy of this stone - it's smooth, soothing and just makes me feel good and Carnelian is also just incredible

I'm also working on creating a line of jewelry that can be flexible, holding a focal stone or a BioElectric Shield. www.bioelectricshield.com

The Shield is one of the most important purchases I've ever made, it balances my energy field and deflects EMF radiation and other people's negativity, fear and stress.

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Comment Wall (2 comments)

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At 10:14am on October 15, 2010, Stephanie ZimmerStephanie Zimmer said…
Thanks for you comment! As you said, I love bold jewelry!!
At 6:33pm on October 19, 2008, Lorri ElyLorri Ely said…
Hi Carolyn. Thanks for joining, and I love your story--I share the same approach to design--letting the beads and energy from the stones inspire me. Lovely work, thanks for sharing!
 
 
 

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Recently, I received an email from one of the folks at SpeedBrite, which is the company that manufactures and sells these. Not only has the company updated the small one I have, but it has a number of other models available. So I thought I'd share the link to the SpeedBrite site for those who may not have one of these yet. Stuller and Gesswein are also two dealers who carry the SpeedBrite Ionic Cleaners.

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